Thanks to the Windows Hello feature, Windows users can use biometrics like fingerprint, face, and security key to sign into their computer. However, some users have complained about the biometric devices missing or uninstalled in Device Manager in Windows error.
As Windows lacks the essential drivers, the user cannot use biometric devices to log in. But not to worry, you can find a fix to the problem in Windows 11/10.
Why Biometric Devices Goes Missing?
The issue mainly occurs right after you upgrade to Windows. As a result, the old biometric drivers might not be compatible with the latest Windows version. Or Windows has removed the drivers and didn’t install a new one.
Another reason could be that the biometric device driver got corrupted for various reasons. As a result, Windows cannot recognize the device and help you sign in using it.
What Do I Do if Biometric Devices Are Not Showing in Windows Device Manager?
If biometric devices are not showing in Windows, then there is nothing to worry about. As you can still log in to your PC using a PIN. However, to fix the issue, you can try the following methods:
- Re-Install HelloFace.inf File
- Download Software & Driver From OEM Website
- Contact OEM Support
You will need an administrator account to resolve this.
1] Re-Install HelloFace.inf File
One of the quickest ways to fix the issue would be to reinstall the HelloFace.inf file. This comes in handy when you have accidentally uninstalled the Biometric device from the Device manager. Or you cannot find the biometric device at all.
To reinstall the file, follow these steps:
- Open File Explore.
- Copy and paste the following path into the location path of File Explorer.
C:\Windows\System32\WinBioPlugIns\FaceDriver
- Over here, locate the HelloFace.inf file and right-click on it.
- Finally, select Install and follow the onscreen instructions to install the driver.
- Finally, reboot your computer and see if it works for you.
Alternatively, on some computers, you may not find this following path C:\Windows\System32\WinBioPlugIns\FaceDriver. In that case, you need to go to this path: C:\Windows\WinSxS
Over here, search for the amd64_microsoft-windows-hello-face folder. Once you open the folder, you will find the HelloFace.inf file, then right-click on it and select continue to proceed ahead.
2] Download Software & Driver From OEM Website
There is a good chance that the biometric device driver is outdated or corrupted. Or if you have reinstalled Windows, Windows might not have downloaded the essential drivers for the biometric to work.
You can manually download and install a biometric device from the OEM’s website. For example, suppose your Laptop has a fingerprint scanner. In that case, you can go to your Laptop’s manufacturer’s website and download drivers related to fingerprint and then install them, which should fix the issue.
3] Contact OEM Support (If Manually Removed)
If you have manually removed the biometric device from your PC and a driver installation doesn’t fix the issue. Then contacting your device OEM would be the last solution. Instead, contact your biometric device’s support helpline and see what they say.
Conclusion
Biometric devices missing or uninstalled in Device Manager in Windows should get fixed after installing the HelloFace.inf file. However, if the above methods don’t fix the issue, ensure that your biometric device is working and getting recognized by some other PC. If it does, you might think of resetting your PC.
Do I Need to Download helloface.inf File From Anywhere?
No, there is no need to download HelloFace.inf file from anywhere. As it is a Windows system file, it comes with Windows OS. However, some PCs may not find the HelloFace.inf file. This happens because the PC is incompatible with Hello Face, and Windows didn’t install the files required for Windows Hello.
Why Is My Camera Not Compatible With Face Recognition?
There are two reasons why your Camera is not compatible with Face recognition. First, your Camera isn’t compatible with Windows Hello. As Windows requires you to use a camera with Intel RealSense or a 3D Camera to support facial unlock features. So if your Camera doesn’t have these features, you won’t be able to use it.
If your Camera meets the Windows hello requirements, you might not have installed the HelloFace.inf and HelloFaceMigration.inf files. However, you can install these files using the following Windows path: C:\Windows\System32\WinBioPlugIns\FaceDriver.